Rev. Beam arrived in Person County in 1886, after graduating from Wake Forest College in Wake Forest, North Carolina. In 1888 he founded the Bethel Hill Institute in a two-room building he purchased. There he worked to provide an education for any student who wanted it, whether they had the means to afford it, or not. Over the years the school grew, and by 1898 it was one of most prosperous and successful schools in the state.In 1905 the institute was destroyed by fire. Rev. Beam left the county to teach, later becoming business manager of Averett College in Danville, VA.The new Bethel Hill High School was erected on the former site of the Bethel Hill Institute. Rev. Beam returned there to teach, and continued until he was selected to serve as superintendent of Person County Schools, a position he held until illness forced his retirement.
Rev. J. A. Beam Obituary, transcribed from The Courier, Person Co., NC August 1928. Rev. J. A. Beam, pioneer county educator, died at age 71. The message received here Saturday morning telling of the death of Rev. J. A. Beam cast a gloom over the town, and the County as well. It was known that his condition was critical and his death was expected, still all had hoped that his unusual vitality would abide with him that we might again have the pleasure of seeing and talking with him. The body was brought to the home at Bethel Hill and on Sunday from 2 to 4 o'clock it rested in state at the Baptist Church here (Roxboro), of which he was a devoted and greatly loved member. For the two hours there was a solid stream of visitors taking a last look at this much loved man. Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Mollie Lucas Beam, two sons, Dr. H. M. Beam, of Roxboro, and G. M. Beam, of Louisburg; two daughters, Mrs. Raymond Bailey, of Louisburg, and Mrs. Tom Smith, of Richmond; and there also survives one sister, Mrs. Nancy Griggs, of Shelby; and one brother, David A. Beam, also of Shelby.
Rev. J. A. Beam Obituary, transcribed from The Courier, Person Co., NC August 1928. Rev. J. A. Beam, pioneer county educator, died at age 71. The message received here Saturday morning telling of the death of Rev. J. A. Beam cast a gloom over the town, and the County as well. It was known that his condition was critical and his death was expected, still all had hoped that his unusual vitality would abide with him that we might again have the pleasure of seeing and talking with him. The body was brought to the home at Bethel Hill and on Sunday from 2 to 4 o'clock it rested in state at the Baptist Church here (Roxboro), of which he was a devoted and greatly loved member. For the two hours there was a solid stream of visitors taking a last look at this much loved man. Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Mollie Lucas Beam, two sons, Dr. H. M. Beam, of Roxboro, and G. M. Beam, of Louisburg; two daughters, Mrs. Raymond Bailey, of Louisburg, and Mrs. Tom Smith, of Richmond; and there also survives one sister, Mrs. Nancy Griggs, of Shelby; and one brother, David A. Beam, also of Shelby.
Rev. Beam arrived in Person County in 1886, after graduating from Wake Forest College in Wake Forest, North Carolina. In 1888 he founded the Bethel Hill Institute in a two-room building he purchased. There he worked to provide an education for any student who wanted it, whether they had the means to afford it, or not. Over the years the school grew, and by 1898 it was one of most prosperous and successful schools in the state.In 1905 the institute was destroyed by fire. Rev. Beam left the county to teach, later becoming business manager of Averett College in Danville, VA.The new Bethel Hill High School was erected on the former site of the Bethel Hill Institute. Rev. Beam returned there to teach, and continued until he was selected to serve as superintendent of Person County Schools, a position he held until illness forced his retirement.
Rev. J. A. Beam Obituary, transcribed from The Courier, Person Co., NC August 1928. Rev. J. A. Beam, pioneer county educator, died at age 71. The message received here Saturday morning telling of the death of Rev. J. A. Beam cast a gloom over the town, and the County as well. It was known that his condition was critical and his death was expected, still all had hoped that his unusual vitality would abide with him that we might again have the pleasure of seeing and talking with him. The body was brought to the home at Bethel Hill and on Sunday from 2 to 4 o'clock it rested in state at the Baptist Church here (Roxboro), of which he was a devoted and greatly loved member. For the two hours there was a solid stream of visitors taking a last look at this much loved man. Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Mollie Lucas Beam, two sons, Dr. H. M. Beam, of Roxboro, and G. M. Beam, of Louisburg; two daughters, Mrs. Raymond Bailey, of Louisburg, and Mrs. Tom Smith, of Richmond; and there also survives one sister, Mrs. Nancy Griggs, of Shelby; and one brother, David A. Beam, also of Shelby.
Rev. J. A. Beam Obituary, transcribed from The Courier, Person Co., NC August 1928. Rev. J. A. Beam, pioneer county educator, died at age 71. The message received here Saturday morning telling of the death of Rev. J. A. Beam cast a gloom over the town, and the County as well. It was known that his condition was critical and his death was expected, still all had hoped that his unusual vitality would abide with him that we might again have the pleasure of seeing and talking with him. The body was brought to the home at Bethel Hill and on Sunday from 2 to 4 o'clock it rested in state at the Baptist Church here (Roxboro), of which he was a devoted and greatly loved member. For the two hours there was a solid stream of visitors taking a last look at this much loved man. Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Mollie Lucas Beam, two sons, Dr. H. M. Beam, of Roxboro, and G. M. Beam, of Louisburg; two daughters, Mrs. Raymond Bailey, of Louisburg, and Mrs. Tom Smith, of Richmond; and there also survives one sister, Mrs. Nancy Griggs, of Shelby; and one brother, David A. Beam, also of Shelby.
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